Large plurality of Americans blames 'activists' for clash
By a margin of 49-19%, Americans blame pro-'Palestinian' 'activists' for the clash that took place last Monday on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara rather than blaming Israel (Hat Tip: Memeorandum). Forty-nine percent (49%) of U.S. voters believe pro-Palestinian activists on the Gaza-bound aid ships raided by Israeli forces are to blame for the deaths that resulted in the high-profile incident.But here's the bad news.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 19% of voters think the Israelis are to blame. Thirty-two percent (32%) more are not sure.
But 51% say Israel should allow an international investigation of the incident. Twenty-five percent (25%) agree with the Israeli government and reject the idea of an international probe. Another 24% are undecided.I guess most Americans don't get it yet, although most Republicans do. Read the whole thing.
Israel Radio reported on Monday night that the seven-member security cabinet has reached a decision on an investigation but that its details will not be announced until the US signs off on it (good luck with that). According to the report, the political echelon will testify at that investigation, but IDF soldiers will not. According to the report, the US greatly believes in the independence of IDF investigations.
Unfortunately, with this administration in power, I would not bet on that being the last word. Everything could go wrong.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:19 AM
2 Comments:
Israel should not agree to any international investigation. Its an insult to think Israel cannot examine itself critically and fairly. And the decision should be put off for a few months. There is no need to decide under the pressure of a hostile world that wants Israel to confirm its guilt for them. An investigation must not blame the soldiers and should instead find out why the political and military leaders did not prepare them to head off into a war and draw the necessary conclusions for the future.
I think that that for most Americans, an investigation sounds fair. Most have little idea about the UN and I'm pretty sure few think it's anti-Semitic. These things are just not on our radar. So, the investigation issue should not be a bellwether for American views toward Israel.
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